Strong wind strikes Eloor, around 73 houses damaged

TNN | Updated: Aug 6, 2019, 8:12 IST

KOCHI: Widespread damages were reported at Eloor after a strong burst of wind hit the area on Monday. Around 73 houses suffered damages after uprooted trees fell on them. Corrugated iron roofs of buildings were blown away in the wind. No casualty was reported. The wind caused destruction at many wards of Eloor municipality. Of the 73 houses, 20 are quarters belonging to Fertilizer and Chemicals Travancore Ltd (FACT). Two houses got damaged completely. The affected families moved to their relatives’ houses. The wind, which lasted only for around 10 seconds, blew from west to east direction around 11.30am. It caused a trail of destruction, which also led to traffic congestion in the area. Though fire force, local people and people’s representatives worked hard to remove the uprooted trees and branches, they could not complete the work even after nine hours. Electric poles, which fell on the road in many regions, made it difficult for fire force personnel to reach destination on time. Power supply was disrupted in many areas. Kerala state electricity board (KSEB) officials said around 15 poles fell on the road and one transformer at Pathalakkadu got damaged. Officials said they had employed four contractors to reinstate poles on Tuesday and power supply will be reinstated by evening. “We removed all the poles on Monday itself. The 11kV transformer got badly damaged. We expect to reinstate power supply in the affected areas by Tuesday evening,” said a KSEB official. “We have been trying hard to clear tree branches, uprooted trees and electric poles. Container Road, Manjummal, Aanavathil, FACT Cemetery Road and neighbouring areas were affected,” said an official of Eloor village. Fire force, police and village officials will submit report to the district administration on the extent of damages caused. “Our team visited the area to estimate the loss. We will give compensation to the affected families from Chief Minister’s distress relief fund (CMDRF),” said a district administration official.

Meanwhile, Eloor municipality convened a meeting and decided to consolidate a report of damages at each ward and collect petitions from affected families at village office. Engineering section of the municipality will repair the damaged buildings. Support of more fire force personnel will be sought. Besides, the local body will approach public works department (PWD) to fell the trees which stand in precarious condition along roadsides. Haritha Karma Sena members and cleaning workers at the municipality will help fire force clear the branches of trees that fell on houses, said municipality vice-chairman M A James. The damages to agriculture will be assessed with the help of agriculture officer.